The Blob always used to scare the living crap out of me as a kid. The ideas of something that could get you from any angle, could not be killed by almost anything, and painfully absorbed/melted you to death like acid were just a horrifying combination. I think the thing that freaked me out the most as a kid was that you couldn't hear it, so I would always think if it ever came for me when I was asleep there would be nothing I could do. God, was I an odd kid...

Recently got the Criterion Collection DVD, and saw it for the first time. Great movie, although I prefer the remake (I think because I saw it first). Can't wait to listen to the commentaries on the DVD.

Incidentally, I noticed a couple of funny things in the movie I thought might be of interest to some people. Firstly, check out this close-up of the old man's Blob-covered arm:

Except for the actual arm, it's obviously a flat, two-dimensional drawing. They basically just laid the false gooey arm over a painting of the actor's chest.

Then I noticed something about Dr. Hallen's death scene. Poor, poor Dr. Hallen. I think I know why he didn't get out in time. Here he is after locking himself in the den and grabbing the phone:

And here is the quick shot of him getting eaten as seen through the window:

He's got his suit jacket on in the shot of him being devoured, despite not having it on when he came into the room. So obviously, the poor fellow just had to get his jacket before trying to make his escape, allowing the Blob enough time to get in and get him.

I had no idea a remake from 1988 counted as "recent," but I guess it is, in the grand scheme of things. Anyway I liked the remake quite a bit, although this may have something to do with the fact I saw it first.

I absolutely loved this movie from the first time I saw it. It had everything I ever wanted/expected from a B-Movie and in my opinion it it the definitive example in the genre (at least from what I have seen so far). This movie launched me on a tangent of looking for similarly good B-Movies. I guess the reason why I like the genre is the nostalgic quality of it (even though I wasn't around in the 50's) and the fact that you can laugh at what's supposed to be scary and the then-original cliches of the plotlines. This one has it all.

P.S. The 1988 version is not as good as this one for a few reasons; namely the less-nostalgic qualities and the attempts to make it more of a futuristic Sci-Fi film/action thriller. There were just too many subplots for it's own good. You should definitely see 1958's version first.

The blob was a hit because it tapped into the zeitsgeist of the day" Commie phobia.

Think about it, the blob was a red, faceless, mindless mass bent on expanding itself by forcibly absorbing honest, decent americans into itself. Gee, what else in the world did americans have that image of in the 50's?

It became the perfect commie surrogate.

BTW, McQueen was sure the movie was dumb and wouldn't work for a percentage of the box. (This was before hollywood routinely screwed over the books so no movie ever makes a profit on paper) He took a flat, small salary. The blob became a hit and the people who took percentages made a lot more than he did.

Note that the 1988 sequal had the government responsible from the blob as no one in america was all that scared about "commies" anymore, but we were worried about our own government. Next blob will have to be a stand in for corporate america.

Recently got the Criterion Collection DVD, and saw it for the first time. Great movie, although I prefer the remake (I think because I saw it first). Can't wait to listen to the commentaries on the DVD.

Incidentally, I noticed a couple of funny things in the movie I thought might be of interest to some people. Firstly, check out this close-up of the old man's Blob-covered arm:

Except for the actual arm, it's obviously a flat, two-dimensional drawing. They basically just laid the false gooey arm over a painting of the actor's chest.

Then I noticed something about Dr. Hallen's death scene. Poor, poor Dr. Hallen. I think I know why he didn't get out in time. Here he is after locking himself in the den and grabbing the phone:

And here is the quick shot of him getting eaten as seen through the window:

He's got his suit jacket on in the shot of him being devoured, despite not having it on when he came into the room. So obviously, the poor fellow just had to get his jacket before trying to make his escape, allowing the Blob enough time to get in and get him.

Quite a few scenes in the movie involved a blob prop and a still, 2d picture. The scene where it covers the diner, the scene where it's oozing into the diner are both set with 2d pictures.

BTW, to see another masterpiece by the guy responsible for this, see "the 4d man".